GnomeShellGenericMonitor/README.md

Introduction
------------

This GNOME Shell Extension aims to display information to center box. Using DBUS protocol, any application can add or remove text and icons in the upper bar, right after date & clock.


Installation
------------

Create a symbolic link from your _.local_ directory and enable extension

  ln -s $PWD/generic-monitor@gnome-shell-extensions/ ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/
  gnome-extensions enable generic-monitor@gnome-shell-extensions

Restart GNOME


DBUS protocol
-------------

All functions read JSON formatted parameters

  notify():
  {
      "group": "groupname",
      // item can have text and/or icon, other are optional
      // click action can be : "signal" or "delete"
      // box property can be : "left", "center" or "right"
      "items": [
          {
	      "name":"",
              "text":"",
              "style":"",
              "icon-style":"",
	      "icon":"",
	      "on-click":"",
	      "box":"",
          }, ...
      ]
      }
  }

  deleteItems():
  {
     "items": ["<itemName>@<groupName>", ...]
  }

  deleteGroups():
  {
     "groups": ["<groupName>", ...]
  }


When text/icon is clicked and on-click parameter is set to "signal", 
extension emit one of the following signals :

  * onClick
  * onRightClick
  * onDblClick
  * onRightDblClick
  * onEnter
  * onLeave
  * onScrollUp
  * onScrollDown

Other signals are available when extension is activated/deactivated :

  * onActivate
  * onDeactivate


Example
-------

You can test it with command line :

  gdbus call --session --dest org.gnome.Shell --object-path /com/soutade/GenericMonitor --method com.soutade.GenericMonitor.notify '{"group":"new","items":[{"name":"first","on-enter":"open-popup","on-leave":"close-popup","text":"Hello","style":"color:green","popup":{"items":[{"picture":{"path":"/tmp/cat2.jpg"}}]}}]}'

  gdbus call --session --dest org.gnome.Shell --object-path /com/soutade/GenericMonitor --method com.soutade.GenericMonitor.deleteGroups '{"groups":["new"]}'

Python example is available


Development
-----------

After doing code update, you can test it within a nested window. In other cases you have to restart GNOME.

  dbus-run-session -- gnome-shell --nested [--wayland]

To see log & errors :

  journalctl /usr/bin/gnome-shell


Licence
-------

GNU GPL 3